Butch Oien
Guest Support Associate
Perry “Butch” Oien has become a familiar and friendly face at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center (SLHVC). Whether he’s giving a hoistroom tour, chauffeuring visitors through Lead on a bus, or pointing out the best spots to grab lunch, Butch helps make each guest’s experience one to remember.
Butch joined the SLHVC team nearly five years ago, initially as a part-time trolley driver while still working as an aircraft mechanic. Before that, he spent more than two decades running a farm implement dealership and working on his family’s farm in Kadoka, South Dakota. That hands-on background, paired with a lifelong interest in aviation, naturally led him to 15 years as a mechanic at Spearfish Airport before joining our team full-time.
When asked what he enjoys most about working at the Visitor Center, Butch doesn’t hesitate: “The people,” he said. “From tourists to researchers to elected officials, you never know who’s going to walk through that door.” Over the years, he’s helped welcome a range of notable guests, from local leaders to the former director of Fermilab.
Of all his duties, Butch especially enjoys giving tours of Lead and SURF’s historic Yates Hoistroom. A wealth of local knowledge and a lifelong learner, he’s quick to research guest questions or dive into Lead’s past. “Sometimes someone will mention that their dad worked here decades ago, and it sends me down a rabbit hole,” he said. “You start looking things up, asking around, and before long, you’ve learned something new yourself.”
Outside of work, Butch enjoys exploring the Black Hills on his ATV and tinkering with his personal fleet of aircraft including three airplanes, one of which is currently flight-ready.
When asked which Visitor Center event is his favorite, Butch doesn’t skip a beat: “Deep Talks. It’s calmer, more focused, and you hear from some incredibly smart people.” He grins. “As long as you can understand them.”
I really enjoy the people I work with and getting to share a piece of this place with folks from all over. From researchers to elected officials, you never know who’s going to walk through that door."
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